Machine for operating upon ticket strips



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,076

' F. W. LAENCHER MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON TICKET STRIPS Filed Dec. 12,1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' m I V 2? 9% h b. 1 2 E m i m i lit} x a] 9 1- T":,1 L 5 0 3 a 8 f I. 1 M" 4. m I

a 4 InvenTor.

Freder'rcK W.Loencher b MMA/W ATTys- Nov. 22, 1927.

Fig. 2.

1,650,076 F. w. LAENCH-ER MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON TICKET STRIPS FiledD80. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m I ,9 lnvenTor.

Freder'IcK W. Luencher y/MJWkW AITys.

Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,076

F. w. LAENCHER MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON TICKET STRIPS Filed Dec. 12,1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 \nvenToT:

FrederibK W. Luencher b iwa WAVM Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,076

F. W. LAENCHER MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON TICKET STRIPS Filed Dec. 12,1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenTor.

FredericK W. Luencher byWMkM y Afiys.

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES rimnnmcx w. nmncnnn, or nnooxmn', NEW YORK, nssrenon m in.mm coll:-

PANY, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

IACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON 'IfIOKI'I. STRIPS.

Application filed December 12, 1988. Serial Io. 880,884.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for operating upon astrip of material, such as, a ticket strip and one of the objects of theinvention is to provide a novel feeding mechanism operable to presentsections of the strip, such as tickets, more accurately to the mechanismor mechanisms which operate upon the strip than has heretofore beenprovided in machines of like character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ticket-strip feedingmechanism which will, without adjustment other than the substitution ofdifferently spaced ticket engaging members, properly present to themechanism for operating upon the strip the tickets of different stripsin which the tickets of one strip differ in width from the tickets ofother strips.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ticket-strip feedingmechanism which may be readily arranged to present tickets of anydesirable length and width to the mechanism which operates upon theticket.

More specifically the invention has for-its object to provide a simple,efficient and practical machine for printing and severing individualmarking tickets from a marking ticket strip. Such a strip may bepartially printed beforehand with any desired data such as the name andaddress of an establishment using the marking tickets and this machineemployed to print upon each ticket suitable indicia such as of grade,style, price, and so forth.

The ticket-strips employed to produce marking tickets may desirablybenotched along one or both edges to provide bevelled corners for thetickets and the present invention contemplates the provision ofticketstrip feeding mechanism which will advance the tickets to thecutting and printing mechanism with such accuracy that the data will beproperly and neatly marked upon the the prmtinghead of the printingmechanism 1n the position in whlch the type faces enticket and thetickets severed from the strip along lines Which intersect the apex or}apexes of the notches in the edge of the ticket, thus insuring theproduction of a neat and symmetrical ticket.

A further ob 'ect of the invention is to provide a machine in which thefeeding, marking and cutting mechanisms are so correlated in theiraction as accurately to feed,

mark and cut the tickets.

A further object of the invention resides n providing means foractuating the feedmg, markm and cutting devices from a single cam s aft.U a

A further object of the invention is'to provide a ticket markingmachineof relates-50 ,076 PATENT OFFICE.

tively simple and of strong construction and in which the parts arereadily accessible for rezlair and replacement.

A rther object of the invention is to rovide a ticket marking machineoperable.

y an electric motor and suitable to be placed 111J the hands ofunskilled and careless opera ors. Other objects and features of theinvention will more fully a pear from the following description an theaccompanyin drawings and will be particularly poin out in the claims. Apreferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings as applied to aticket-strip marking and cutting machine, inwhich,

1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the frame and theticket-strip feedlng mechanism showing the actuating mechanlsm 1nelevation;

. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the worm driv- 111%;[11801131115111 foractuating the cam shaft- 1g. 5 is a detail plan view of the forwar endportion of the strip feeding bar; and

ticket support;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of'a wider strip feedmg bar adapted to besubstituted for that shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the forward endtof the strip feeding bar;and ticket supp Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the machine showing theprinting head of the printing mechanism in the position in which thetype faces engage the inking pad;

Fig. 9 is a detail end elevation showing gage the ticket-strip;

Fig. 10 is a detall view of the cutter and means for actuating the sameto sever the ticket-strip; and,

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view showing a portion of the bed of themachine with the feeding mechanism mounted thereu on engaging theticket-strip in which the tickets are in the form of string tags andalso illustrating means for preventing the severing of the strings asthe tickets pass the cutting mechanism.

The machine illustrated in the accompanyin drawings comprises a framehaving :a

te le or bed 1 with downwardly extending sides 2 and ends 3 which restupon. a base 4 and forms a box-like construction wh1ch encloses the owertransmitting mechanlsm through wh1ch the mechanisms, which operate uponthe tickets, are actuated.

The frame is also provlded Wltlhfi rearward extension 5 to support aticket feeding mechanism of a desirablelength. By reason of thisconstruct on a slmpale, but rigid frame is providedwhich 1s capa le ofcarrying the motor and power transmltting mechanism, but which, however,are shown in the present drawings as :mounted upon the base 4. 6

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a novelfeedingmechanism for feeding the ticket strips wh1ch w1ll accuratelyposition the tickets so that the tickets will be severed alongpredetermined lines, such as are found in printed ticket strips, or insuch a manner that the hue of severance will accurately intersect the an1e or angles of the notches which define t e tickets of the strip.

The feeding mechanism comprises a slide which is reciprocably mountedupon the bed or table 1, preferably ad'acent one ofthe longitudinaledges thereo .and is provided with strip engaging members adaptedsuccessively to engage and advance the strip a predetermined distance.

In the particular embodiment of the m vention illustrated herein theslide comprises a flat plate 6 which is reciprocably mounted upon thebed or table and a feed bar 7 which is detachably secured to the plate 6and provided with a series of teeth presenting shoulders 8 which arespaced apart equal distances, not less than the width of the ticket tobe operated upon, and adapted successively to engage the end of theticket-strip 9. The feed bar 7 desirably is provided with a longitudinalway or slot 10 which intersects the teeth and over which a hold-down islocated to press the ticket-strip 9"into engagement with the teeth. Thefeed bar 7 is also provided with a lateral extension 11 which underliesa guide 12 for the inner edge of the ticket-strip. The guide 12desirably is supported upon brackets 13 which are adjustably secured tothe table 1 by screw and slot connections 14 in order that the guide maybe properly positioned for ticket-strips of different widths, i. e., fortickets of different lengths.

v The slide 6 may be guided in any suitable manner as by blocks 15secured to the under face of the slide and having extensions or flangeswhich underlie and slidably engage the under surface of the table. Apreferred means for reciprocating the slide com uses a bracket 16 whichis secured to the owerface of the late 6 and which slidably fits withinthe s 0t in the table 1, and is .provided with a bifurcated end 17 inwhich the rear end of a link 18 ispivotally mounted upon a studextending across-the bifurcated end of the bracket. The link 18 isconnected prefera'blyby a screw and slot connection to another link 19which is pivotally mounted at itsforward end upon a stud 20 upon theupper end of a lever. 21 the lower end of which is pivotall mounted upona stud 22 of a bracket 23 w ich is secured to the base 4 of the machine.

The lever 21 has intermediate of its ends a laterally extending shaft 24which preferably is provided with a roller which enga es a cam slot 25in a cam 26 which is fixedly secured to a cam shaft 27 journalled insuitable be'arings in standards 28 and 29 mounted upon the base 4. Thecam shaft 27 has affixed to it a bevelled gear 30 which is driven by apinion 31 upon a countershaft 32 which is journalled in the upper endsof suitable standards 33 which are mounted upon the base 4. Thecountershaft 32 has intermediate of the standards 33 a worm gear 34which is driven by a worm 35 upon the shaft 36 driven by an electricmotor 37.

By reason of this construction a train of gearing. is provided whichwill impart a deslred speed of reciprocation to the feedlng mechanism.The mechanisms for operat ing upon the ticket-strip desirably are alsoactuated from the cam shaft 27, thus insuring proper synchronism ofmovement between the feeding mechanism and the mechanisms which act uponthe ticket-strip.

In order to insure the proper feeding of the strip and its accuratepresentation to the mechanism which operates upon it a holddown isprovided to press'the ticket-strip down upon the toothed feed bar andmeans are also provided to engage the outer .edge of the ticket-stripand force the inner edge thereof against the guide 12.

The preferredform of hold-down is in the form of a bar 38 which overliesthe slot 10 in the feed bar and is carried by arms 39 which arepivotally mounted upon'brackets 40 adjustably secured to the bed 1. Theguide for the edge of the strip as illustrated comprises a roller41'which is mounted upon a stud extending downwardly from a bracket 42which is secured to the hold-down bar 38. By reason of this constructionthe holddown and guide may be swung from the operative positionillustrated in full lines in Fig. 3 to the inoperative positionillustrated in dotted lines to permit the feed strip to be placed uponthe feed bar 6. When the holddown is swung again to operative positionit is pressed down upon the teeth of the-feed strlp so that uponthe'forward reciprocat ing movement of the feed bar the shoulders of oneof the teeth will engage the end of the strip and advance the strip,while the engagement of the guide 41 with the outer edge of the stripand the en agement of the guide 12 with' the inner e ge of the stripwill prevent lateral displacement of the strip during the feedingmovement. Inasmuch as the slide is always reciprocated through a fieldof predetermined length the ticketstrip engaging members 01' teeth willalways advance to a predetermined point. By substituting dilferent feedbars 7, '(see Figs. 5 and 6}, in which the distance between the shouders of the teeth are properly correlated to the width of the ticket tobe fed, ticket-strips having tickets of anydesired width may be properlyadvanced to position the tickets accurately to the mechanism whichoperates upon the ticket. 1

In order to provide for the accurate assembling of the machine and alsofor adjustment if necessary because of wear, the field of reciprocationof the slide may be adjusted by loosening the screws which connect thelink 18 to the link 19 and adjusting the slide until the shoulders 8 ofthe teeth are in proper position to advance the strip exactly the rightdistance, whereupon the screws may be set up and the adjustment madepermanent.

' As a further precaution to prevent any overfeeding a stop mechanism isprovided to limit the forward movement of the feeding slide. In theparticular construction illustrated this is accomplished by a bracket 43which is secured to the under face of the slide plate 6 and reciprocatesin the bed thereby forming an addltional guide for the slide and whichis provided with a screw 44 the end of which may be positioned to engagean abutment 45 upon a bracket 46 which desirably is secured to the apronof the frame.

Any suitable means may be provided to prevent retrograde movement of theticketstri durin the rearward movement of the fee ing sli e within thebroad scope of the claims which are addressed to the feeding mechanism.In the-preferred embodiment of the invention, however, a specialmechanism is provided for clamping the ticket strip, printing the ticketand severing the printed ticket from the trip. The strip clamping andcutting mechanism illustrated comprises a plate 47 which overlies theend of the feeding slide when in its forward position and presents ahardened ledger plate to co-operate with the movable cutter. The plate47 is carried by a strong and rigid bracket or casting 48 which extendsnearly across the bed and is secured to it by a machine screw 49 orbolt. The bracket 48 .desirably is provided with a flange 50 which restsupon the table 1 andalso with an extension which projects through a slot51 in ing the tempered steel cutter 59 which is s'ecured to the free endof the cutter bar 57.

The strip-clamping mechanism illustrated herein comprises a verticalclamping bar 60 which co-operates with the ledger plate 47 and which isslidably mounted in a suitable journal in the frame and passes throughthe slotted end of an actuating lever 61 which is pivotally mounted upona bracket 62 extending downwardl from the under face of tho bed'ortable. T intermediate pf its ends with a'cam follower roll 63 whichengages the periphery of a cam 64 which is mounted upon the cam shaft27. A helical tension sprin connected to the cutter bar and to thestationary member of the machine, such as the standard 33, holds thefollower 63 .in contact with the face of the cam 64. A sprin ing theclamping bar 60 and seated at its lower and upon a washer resting uponthe reduced end portion of the lever 61 and at its upper end connectedto the clamping bar 60, provides a yielding support for the clamping bar60 which will enable it properly to clamp the ticket-strip against theplate 47 and hold thestri durin the backward movement of the fee in slie.

In order to prevent ti ticket-strip from dropping when the clampingslide is moved backward a block 66 is mounted upon the table 1 beneaththe plate 47 and is rovided with upwardly extending ribs whici projectinto slots 67 in the forward end of the feed bar, so that when the feedbar is withdrawn the last ticket of the strip will rest upon the ribsand will be engaged by the forward end of the feed slide upon its nextforward movement and advanced to the printing mechanism.

The eccentric 64 is so formed and positioned upon the cam shaft 27 thatthe clamping bar 60 will be raised to engage and clamp the ticket-striat the end of the feeding movement an the backward movement of thefeeding slide, thus enabling the successive shoulders 8 of the teethupon the feed bar to engage the widest ticket for which the machine isadapt;

65, surrou'nd-' he lever 61 is provided e last ticket of the I willretain the strip during ed and, of course, to engage the end of thestrip upon its forward movement when tickets of less width are used.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated the frame ofthe printing mechanism comprises a plate 68 which is screwed to the bedor table of the machine and has secured to its edges vertical standards69 and 70 provided at their upper portions with laterally extending arms71 and 72. The pair of arms 70 is connected by a relatively thin plate73 against which an inking pad 74 is secured by a suitable clamp which,as illustrated herein, comprises a bracket having an arm 75 connected tothe pad and a lever 76 pivotally mounted upon the bracket having its end77 adapted to engage the rear face of the plate 73. Thus the inking padcan be readily applied to or removed from the machine.

The inking pad is thus supported in angular relation to the plane of theplaten 78, which desirably is in the form of fibrous material, and issecured to the table of the machine so that its upper plane s' rface ispositioned to receive the forward end of the ticket-strip as it isadvanced by the feeding mechanism. W

In the present machine the printing head is pivotally mounted upon aswinging'arm and is provided with guiding means which will cause initialand forward substantially rectilinear movements of the head with anintermediate swinging movement which will cause the type face of theprinting head to be alternately resented'to the inking pad and theplaten in directions normal to their respective surfaces.

The printinghead 79 is of substantially rectangular form and is providedwith trunnions 80 which are pivotally mounted in the upper ends of arms81 which are rigidly connected to a rock shaft 82 journalled in thestandards 69 and of the printing frame. The printing head constitutes achase holder which preferably carries a chase of the character disclosedin the prior application of Alonzo Kimball Marsh, Serial Number 614,687,filed January 24, 1923.

The rock shaft 82 has secured to it a gear or segment of a gear 83, theteeth of which engage complementary'teeth of a rack 84, the upper end ofwhich rests upon a guide roller 85 upon a shaft 86 which is mounted inlugs extending downwardly from the arms 71. The rack 84 is provided witha forked lower end 87 which embraces the cam shaft 27 and is providedwith a roller 88 which rests upon an eccentric 89 which is.

secured to the cam shaft 27. A tension spring 90, secured at its upperend to a lug upon the fork of the rack and at its lower end to a studupon the supporting standard for the cam shaft, serves to press the camroller 88 against the cam 89. Thus the retation of the cam 89 willreciprocate the rack 8% and, acting through the gear 83 will oscillatethe rock shaft 82 and its arms 81 which carry the printing'head.

A handle upon the rock shaft 82 enables the printing mechanisfn to beoperated to print proofs and single tickets independently of the actionof the feeding mechanism as the bifurcated end of the rack 84 permitsin-' dependent movement of the printing mecha- IllSIIl.

The guiding means for the printing head comprises a shaft 91 which issecured to the side of the printing head opposite to the type faces andextends therefrom in a direction normal to the plane of the type face.The shaft 91 is slidably mounted in a suitable bearmg in a preferablyrectangular bar 92 having cylindrical ends or trunnions which arerotatably mounted in suitable hearings in the end portion of the arms 7172 of the standard 69. The axis about which the bar 92 oscillates islocated at the intersection of planes normal to the face of the pad andthe ,plane of the platen an equidistance from the pad face and theplaten.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings the printing head is illustrated in itsinitial position with the type faces engaging the inking pad and in Fig.the printing head is shown in its final posltion with the type facesengaging the platen. Y

In the operation of the machine starting with the position of theprinting head shown in Flg. 8, the upward movement of the rack bar whenactuated by the cam 89 causes the arm 69 to swing, toward the right, and

its initial movement is in a direction substantially normal to thesurface of the inking pad. Upon further movement of the arm the printinghead is gradually swung down and is guided by the shaft 91, which isslidably mounted in its bearing in the bar 92, until it approaches theplaten. However, the final movement of the printing head toward theplaten is substantially rectilinear in a direction normal to the face ofthe platen. Thus the printing head is properly presented both to theprinting pad and to the platen. In the present construction the plane ofthe inking pad is normal to that of the platen, but it will beunderstood that other relatively angular positions of the printing padmay be employed within the meaning and scope of the claims.

In order to preventinjury to the hands of One of the features of theinvention con-- sistsv in so correlating the operations of the feedingmechanism, the cutting mechanism .and the printing mechanism as toinsure the ticket beyond the cutter and substan-.'

' tially simultaneously with the clamping ating upon pin tickets inwhich the shanks of posltion upon the feed bar.

movement of the printinghead to actuate the cutter to sever the stripintermediate of the printing mechanism and the forward end of thefeeding mechanism.

It will be observed that the cutter is wider than the widest stri to beoperated upon thereby insuring a c ean cut entirely across theticket-strip.

The machine is illustrated in Figs. 3, 8 and.

9 of the accompanying drawings as operthe attaching members are shown asextending downwardly along the edge of the feeding slide. In theperspective view, Fig. 11, a

strip of string tags is shown in operative I In order to prevent thestrings of the marking tags from being engaged by the cutter means areprovided for deflecting the strings of the tag out of the path of thecutter. The guide shown in Fig.'11 comprises a bar or rod 94 having itsends bent at right angles to the body of the bar and anchored to the bedor apron and outwardly and forwardly inclined with respect to thevertical face of the a ro n 5, the forward end of the bar being a, sc1ent distance away from the frame of the machlne to deflect the stringsout of the path of the cutter.

In the operation of the machine the holddown may be raised to permit thefirst t1cket strip to be placed upon the feed bar with its end closelyadjacent to the path of the cutter. During the first feeding movementthe shoulder 8 of one of the teeth on the feed bar will engage the rearend of the strip and advance the strip to the end of its feedingmovement at which time the strip will be properly positioned upon theprinting mechanism and also in proper relation to the cutter. The clampis then actuated to clamp the strip and promptly thereafter the printinghead is swung down and vertically reciprocated to print the strip.Substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the printing headwith the strip the upwardly moving cutter severs the strip. The feedingmechanism is then moved backward, the

vanced and forces the severe position during the entire rearwardmovement of the cutter after which it is released by its .cam and. drawndownwardby the spring. In the meantime the cutter has been depressed outof the "path of the fastening devices of the pin ticket sothat the stripmay be fed forward by the next movement of the cutter withoutinterference.

During the nextforward feeding movement of the feed bar the striisagain' adticket across the laten so that it is delivered from the macinc and slides down the inclined walls 95 and 96 of the platen and bedto serve as a chute to deliver the severed ticket from the machine to asuitable receptacle (not shown). By providing feed bars, the equallyspaced strip-engagingmembers or teeth of which are properl of thetickets to e operated upon, ticketstrips of any desirable width may beproperly fed and by merely adjusting the guide and hold-down mechanismprovision may be made for advancing ticket-strips in which the ticketsof one strip differ in length from those of the other. t

'lfhe operation is then continued until the entire strip is printed andthe tickets severed therefrom. When the last ticket of the strip 1sengaged by the foremost shoulder of the feed bar it is held by theclamping mechanism during the rearward movement of the feed bar and uponthe release of the clamp is supported upon the ribs of the block uponthe presser plate which underlies the ledger plate so that upon the nextforward feeding correlated to the width reach the rear end of thepreceding ticketstrip. Thus the operation of the machine may bemadecontinuous.

The ticket-strip can be removed from the machine at any time by swingingthe holddown out of engagement with the ticketstrip and withdrawing theticket-strip from the machine when it is released by the clampmgmechanism.

It will be noted that the machine above described is of an exceedinglystrong construction although relatively light and that the mechanismcomprises a minimum num benof parts which are so constructed as to avo1dvibration which would tend to displace the tlckets during the operationof the machine and that the co-operating mechanisms are so designed andassociated as to produce the highest degree of accuracy in theiroperations upon the pin ticket-strip.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosedherein is illustrative and not restrictive and that the feedingmechanism herein described may be employed to present tickets to othermechanisms for operating upon the ticket and that various changes inconstruction, form and arrangement of parts maybe made within themeaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, strip-feedingmechanism comprising a movable device having a serles of strip-engagingmembers and means for actuating said deviceto cause the members of saidseries successively to engage the end of the strip and advance the stripa predetermined distance. 7

2. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, ticket-strip feedingmechanism comprising a. movable device having a series of strip-engagingmembers spaced apart a distance not less than the width of the ticket tobe operated upon and means for actuating said movable device to causethe members of said series successively to engage an end of theticket-strip and advance the strip a predetermined distance.

3. .In a machine for operatlng upon a ticket-strip, ticket-strip feedingmechanism comprising a slide having a series of stripengaging membersspaced apart a distance not less than the width of the ticket to beoperated upon, means for reciprocating the said slide to cause themembers of said series successively to engage the end of the ticketstripupon the successive forward movements of said slide and advance thestrip a predetermined distance and means for preventing retrogrademovement of the strip.

4. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, ticket-strip feedingmechanism comprising a slide having a series of stripengaging membersspaced apart a distance not less than the width of the ticket to beoperated upon, means for reciprocating said slide to cause the membersof said series successively to engage the end of the ticketstrip uponthe successive forward movements of said slide and advance the strip apredetermined distance, means for preventing retrograde movement of thestrip and means on said bed extending into slots in the forward end ofsaid slide to prevent the lastticket of the strip from dropping and topresent the rear end thereof in the ath of the forward end of the slidewhere y said last ticket will be properly advanced upon the next forwardmovement of the slide.

5. In a machine for operating upon a gage the end of the strip uponsuccessive forward movements of said slide .and ad- Vance the strip apredetermined distance and means for preventing retrograde movement ofthe strip.

6. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, ticket-strip feedingmechanism comprising a slide having a series of teeth presentingshoulders spaced apart at equal dlstances not less than the width of theticket to be operated upon and provided with a longitudinal wayintersecting said teeth, a yieldable hold-down located over said wayactingto press the strip against the teeth of sa1d slide, means forreciprocating said slide to cause successive teeth of said series toengage the end of the strip upon successive forward movements of saidslide and advance the strip a predetermined distance and means forpreventing retrograde movement tion of the field of reciprocation ofsaid.

slide, whereby successive portions of the strip may be properlypositioned relatively to the mechanism which acts upon the strip. 8. Ina machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, comprising a guidepositioned to engage one edge of a ticket-strip, a stripfeeding slidehaving a series of teeth presenting shoulders spaced apart at equaldistances not less than the width of the ticket to be operated upon, ahold-down acting to press the ticket-strip against said teeth andprovided with means to engage the other edge of the strip and hold thestrip against said guide, means for reciprocating'said slide to causesuccessive teeth of said series to engage the end of the strip uponsuccessive forward movements of said slide and to advance feeding slidehaving a series of teeth PIIG? senting shoulders spaced apart at equaldistances not less than thehwficiltii of thet tickpt tobe o erated upon,a o own ac mg 0 press tlib ticket-stripflagainst said teeth and providedwith means to engage the other edge of the strip and hold the same aganst said guide, means for ad u st1n said guide, means for reciprocatingsa d s ide to cause successive teeth of said serles Eto engage the endof the strip on success] orward movements of said slide and to advancesaid strip a predetermined distance and means for preventing retrogrademovement of sad stri i 15 In a machine for operating upon a ticket-stripcomprising a guide In pos1t1 on to engage one edge of a ticket-strip, astripfeeding slide having 84581168 of teeth presenting shoulders spacedat equal distances not less than the width of the trcket to be operatedupon, ahold-down comprising a bar extending longitudinally above themedial portion of said slide and provided with laterally extending armsplvotally mounted to swing about an axis at one side of sald slide,means carried by said hold-down to engage the other edge of the stripand hold the same against said guide, means for reciprocatin said slideto cause successive teeth of sai series to engage the end of the stripupon successive forward movements of said slide and to advance saidstrip a predetermined distance and means for preventlng retrogrademovement of said strip.

11. In a machine f0r-'operat1ng upon a ticket-strip, a ticket-strip feedng slide having a series of strip-engaging members spaced apart atequaldistances not less than the width of the tickett to be operatedupon,

,overlying the forward end portion of said slide, means forreciprocatingsaid sl de to cause successive members of said series toengage the rear end of the strip upon successive forward movements ofsaid slide and advance the strip a predetermined distance,

a clamping member and means for actuating the same to clamp and hold thestrip against said plate during the rearward movement of said slide.

12. In a machine for operatmg upon a ticket-strip, a ticket-stripfeeding slide having a series of strip-engaging members spaced apart ate ual distances not less than the width of t e ticket to be operatedupon, means for reciprocating said slide, a plate presenting a ledgerblade and overlying the forward end portion of said slide, means forreciprocating said slide to cause successive members of said series toengage the rear end of the strip upon successive forward movements ofsaid slide and advance the stri a predetermined distance, a clamping memer and means for actuating the same to clamp and hold the strip againstsaid plate during the rearward movement of said slide, 'a cutting bladeand means for moving the same upwardl into co-operative relation to saidledger b ade to' sever the strip. 1 l

13. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, a ticket-stripfeeding slide having a series of stri -engaging members spaced apart atequal istances not less than the width of the ticket to be operatedupon, means for reci rocating said slide to cause successive mem rs ofsaid series to engage the rear end of the strip on forward movements ofsaid slide and advance the stri a predetermined distance, a clamping memer and means for actuating the same to clamp and" hold the stri againstsaid plate and during the rearward movement of the slide, said slidehaving a slot at its forward end portion to receive said clamping memberand permit rearward movement on the slide during the clamping action ofsaid clamping member.

:14. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, n-,ticke't-stripfeeding slide having a series of strip-engaging .members s aced apart atequal distances not less than t e width of the ticket to be operatedupon, a plate presenting a ledger blade overlying the forward endportion of said slide, means for reciprocating said slide to causesuccessive members of said series to engage the rear end of the stripupon successive forward movements of said slide and advance the strip apredetermined distance, a clamping member, means for actuating the sameto clamp and hold the strip against said plate during rearward movementsof said slide, a cutting blade of greater length am the width of saidstrip and means for movmg said blade upwardly into co-operative relationto said ledger blade to sever the p strip.

15. In a machine for operating upon a ticket-strip, a ticket-stripfeeding slide having a series of stri -engaging members spaced apart atequal istances not less than the width of the ticket to beoperatedgipon, a plate presenting a ledger blade overlying the forwardend portion of said slide, means for reciprocatin said slide to causesuccessive members 0 said series to engage the rear end of the stripupon successive for-- ward movements of said slide and advance the stripa predetermined distance, a

clamping member, means for actuating the same to clamp and hold thestrip against said plate during rearward movements of said slide, acutting blade of greater length than the width of said strip and meansfor moving said blade upward y into co-operative relation to said ledgerblade to sever the strip and guiding means positioned to enga e flexibleattaching devices, when carried %y the tickets, and to divert saidattaching devices from the'cutting field.

16. In a ticket marking machine comprising a single strip feedingmechanism and printing mechanism and means for actuatmg the feedingmechamsm 1n synchronism with the printing mechanism to present ticketssuccessively to the printing mechanism, and manual yoperable means foractuating the printing mechanism independently of the feeding mechanismand while the strip feeding mechanism is at rest whereby proofs andsingle tickets may be readily printed.

17. In a ticket marking machine, a bed, a cam shaft and means forrotating the same, a ticket-strip supporting slide reciprocably mountedon said bed having a series of members operable successively to engagethe rear end of the ticket-strip upon successive forward movements ofsaid slide, a plate overlying the forward end of said slide andpresenting a ledger blade, a clamping member located below said plate, amovable cutter normally located below said ledger blade in co-operativerelation thereto and means operable from said cam shaft to actuaterespectively said slide, clamping member and cutter in co-ordinatedrelations, to advance the ticket-strip then to cut and clamp the sameand to hold the ticket-strip during the rearward movement of the slide.

18. In a ticket marking machine, a bed, a cam shaft and means forrotating the same, a ticket-strip supporting slide reciprocably mountedon said bed having a series of members operable successively to en agethe rear end of the ticket-strip upon t e successive forward movementsof said slide, a plate overlying the forward end of said slide andpresenting a ledger blade, a clampin member located below said plate, amova 1e cutter normally located below said ledger blade in co-operativerelation thereto, a printing head located above and a co-operatingplaten located below the ath of the ticket-strip and means independentlyoperable from said cam shaft to actuate respectively said slide,clamping member, printing head and cutter in co-ordinated relationssuccessively to advance the ticket-strip then clamp and print the sameand to sever the strip during the engagement of the printing headtherewith and to retain the strip during the rearward movement of saidslide.

In testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERlCK W. LAENCHER.

